Index to 1,700 autographs collected from 1905-1910 by former City Librarian Charles Lummis. Lummis sent specially designed library stationery to all the leading men and some women of the day asking them to improve the page with a saying, drawing, or other inspiring example. Call the Rare Books Department at (213) 228-7350 for an appointment to view the collection.

Index to 1,300 bookplates commissioned by people who wished to identify the books in their libraries through a unique work of art. Part of the Library's "Visual Collections", with the images available for online viewing.

Indexes information about people, places, and events that have had a significant impact on life in Southern California. Most newspapers, magazines, and books cited here can be found in the Central Library. Part of the Library's "Visual Collections", many of the source materials can be viewed online.

Index to The Joseph E. Casey Fashion Plate Collection, which contains over 6,000 handcolored fashion plates from British and American magazines dating from the 1790s to the 1880s. Part of the Library's "Visual Collections", the images are available for online viewing.

This selection of Los Angeles-Area City and Street-Address Directories spans from 1875-1987 and can be searched by name or address. Part of the Library's "Visual Collections," the directories have been digitized and can be viewed online.

Index to over 2,500 promotional booklets on food and cooking from commercial and non-commercial sources. The booklets date from the late 19th. century and show the development of advertising art as well as the stated purpose. Call the Rare Books Department at (213) 228-7350 for an appointment to view the booklets.

The majority of the photographs owned by El Pueblo Monument concern the history of Olvera Street, the Mexican marketplace that was founded in 1930, and its traditional yearly events, such as the Blessing of the Animals, Cinco de Mayo, Las Posadas, and Mexican Independence Day.

A collection of over 200 vibrantly-colored labels, designed for citrus growers throughout Southern California, mainly during the first half of the twentieth century. Many of the labels illustrate specific locations in the region, and are an excellent example of commercial graphic design from the period, as well as documenting the industry itself. Part of the Library's "Visual Collections", the images have been digitzed and can be viewed online.

The map collection is over one hundred years old, contains more than 100,000 items and represents a wide scope, including local, national and international cartography. The online archive focuses on maps depicting Los Angeles and the West. The online archive is part of the Library's "Visual Collections", with the maps available for online viewing.

From the special collections of the Frances Howard Goldwyn Hollywood Regional Branch Library, this collection spans from the earliest years of the motion picture industry to the World War II era. Part of the Library's "Visual Collections", these selected posters have been digitized and may be viewed online.

Inventory forms, photographs, and other supporting documentation on outdoor sculpture found in Southern California. The Index was prepared for the Save Outdoor Sculpture! (SOS!) project of the National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Selected travel posters of exotic destinations are from the collection housed in the International Languages Department and Rare Books at Central Library. The artwork finely demonstrates the sensibilities of 1920s and 1930s Art Deco and early Futurism. Part of the Library's "Visual Collections", the posters have been digitzed and can be viewed online.

A fiction reader's advisory database. Find books by the same author, or similar books by another author. Browse by subject, genre, and theme for over 150,000 titles. Reviews, book discussion guides and annotated book lists constantly updated.

Formerly Zinio, RBdigital Magazines offers full color, interactive digital magazines. Browse from a collection of popular titles with no holds, no checkout periods, and no limit to the number of magazines you can download.

Connect with LAPL

Why support the Library?

The Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest most diverse population of any library in the United States.

Through its Central Library and 72 branches, the Los Angeles Public Library provides free and easy access to information, ideas, books and technology that enrich, educate and empower every individual in our city's diverse communities.

With more people than ever before using the library—a record 17 million last year alone—your support helps the Library provide people with the resources they need to succeed and thrive.

How to support the Library

You can support the Los Angeles Public Library in several ways:

Join a “Friends” group. There is a “Friends of the Library” group for most branch libraries and departments of the Central Library. Friends groups raise money for improvements to their library through memberships, used book sales and other activities. For more information click here or talk to your local librarian.

Join the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. The Library Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds for Library enhancement programs such as adult and early literacy, children and teen reading clubs, technology, and cultural programs. Foundation members receive a variety of benefits with their membership. For more information, see http://www.lfla.org.

Make a donation by check to the Los Angeles Public Library and send it to:Support the Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles CA 90071 or call (213) 228-7555.